Asaram Bapu no saint, hang him for 'rape': CPI MP

Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav on Monday questioned Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on what steps the government was taking to prevent spiritual guide Asaram Bapu from taking the country for a ride, and avoiding arrest over rape related crimes.

"There is one sadhu who is taking the country for a ride. What have you done in the case? A young girl has slapped rape charges against him. Government should say something and do something on this. Why don't you speak on this," Yadav told Shinde after the latter made a statement on the Mumbai gangrape case before the House.

"Punishing this sadhu will send a strong message across the country," Yadav added.

Though members including Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta demanded stringent action against Asaram Bapu, members who wanted to speak on the subject were not allowed to by Speaker Meira Kumar.

"Asaram should be hanged," Dasgupta shouted.

Reacting to the furor, Shinde said he was yet to get the specifics on the case and would address the House after he acquired the information regarding the charges levelled against Asaram Bapu.

"The honourable member mentioned about Asaram Bapu. All these are state subjects and I have no information in the matter," said Shinde.

"Whenever we get any information from the state concerned, we will share it with the house," he added.

Meanwhile, a team of the Jodhpur police arrived at the ashram of spiritual leader Asaram Bapu on Monday and served a summons on the latter in connection with a sexual assault case.

A 15-year-old girl has alleged in her complaint that Asaram Bapu had asked her to stay back after prayers last week and had then sexually assaulted her as her mother waited outside.

Though the godman is not in Ahmedabad, the police served the summons to the ashram office-bearers.

Asaram Bapu has been given four days to appear before the police in Jodhpur for questioning in the case.

Police officials said last week that the description of the scene of crime matches with the details given by the girl in the First Information Report.

Asaram Bapu has also reportedly admitted that he met the girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, but has denied her allegations of a sexual assault.